CyrusOne wants to earn Texans’ trust amid data center boom
CyrusOne is actively promoting transparency and community engagement in Texas amid growing concerns about data centers' impact on electricity, water, and local communities. This comes as Governor Greg Abbott orders a comprehensive audit of data center electricity and water usage applications and San Antonio council members propose a moratorium on new data centers. CyrusOne is highlighting its investments in infrastructure and efficient cooling methods to address these concerns.
CyrusOne, a Dallas-based data center operator with 15 existing facilities and plans for more across Texas, is proactively emphasizing transparency and community engagement. This effort is in response to increasing scrutiny over the data center industry's environmental and infrastructural impacts, especially as Texas rapidly expands to become a leading data center market. The company seeks to rebuild trust amidst general industry secrecy and public concerns regarding power and water consumption.
Governor Greg Abbott has ordered a comprehensive audit for proposed data center projects seeking connections to the state's electric grid, citing non-compliance with a Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) survey on resource usage. Abbott expressed alarm over the 474 gigawatts of demand from data center applications, fearing it could jeopardize the Texas electric grid's reliability. Concurrently, in San Antonio, City Council Members Ric Galvan, Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, and Teri Castillo have called for a special meeting by August 31st to discuss a proposed moratorium on new data centers within the city.
Katy Hancock, CyrusOne's Vice President of Community Affairs, stated the company's commitment to early community involvement and sharing project details. CyrusOne supports Governor Abbott's directives and underscores its responsible development practices, which include significant investments in power infrastructure like substations for its Castroville project. The company also highlights its use of closed-loop cooling systems, which drastically reduce water consumption, and integrated sound attenuation equipment.
CEO John Hatem has personally led community meetings in areas like Jack County and Medina County, where new data center campuses are proposed, to foster positive relationships. CyrusOne also plans partnerships with community colleges for workforce development for its upcoming 460,000-square-foot Castroville facility, slated for completion by June 2027.